September 2010 ! www.epa.gov/region10/columbia
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Columbia River Basin
Toxics Reduction Action Plan
September 2010
Prepared by:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 10
& The Columbia River Toxics
Reduction Working Group
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10

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Columbia River Basin
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The Lower Columbia River is
the reach from Bonneville Dam
downstream to the Ocean.
The Middle Columbia River is the
reach from Grand Coulee Dam to
Bonneville Dam.
The Upper Columbia River is the
reach upstream of Grand Coulee
Dam.
WYOMING
300
MUileid
Excerpt from
Voyage of a Summer Sun
by Robin Cody
(used by perm ission from the author)
The Columbia River, like the idea for my canoe trip springs from no single source. The river gathers from glacial
drip into brawling mountain streams all along the west slope of the Rocky Mountains, from British Columbia,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. Before the Columbia becomes the border between Washington and Oregon and
knifes through its cliff-guarded gorge in the Cascade Range, it has already traced Canadian rainforest and
high desert. Green ferns and tall spruce are replaced by sagebrush and dry wheat, salamanders give way to
rattlesnakes, loggers to cowboys, snow-capped peaks to dry-baked hills. After gathering itself from Canada,
seven Western states, and two time zones, the Columbia slides from the desert into another dripping rainforest
and heaves more water into the Pacific than any other river in North or South America, more than ten times what
the Colorado sends through the Grand Canyon, twice the flow of the fabled Nile.

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Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working Group Steering Committee
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Design for the Environment
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Columbia Riverkeeper
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Idaho Department of Agriculture
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
Nez Perce Tribe
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Northwest Power and Conservation Council
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Oregon Department of Human Services
Oregon Environmental Council
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Geological Services
Washington Department of Ecology
Washington Department of Health
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
EPA Columbia River Basin Website:
www.epa. gov/region 10/columbia
https ://twitter.com/EPAcolumbia
Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan
EPA Region 10

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Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan
EPA Region 10

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1.0
Introduction
The Columbia River Basin, in both United States
and Canada, is one of the world's great river
Basins in watershed size, river volume, and
environmental and cultural significance. However,
public and scientific concern about the health
of the Basin ecosystem is increasing, especially
due to the presence of toxic contaminants found
in fish, wildlife, water and sediment, which can
pose a health concern to people, fish and wildlife.
Understanding and addressing the toxics problem
is essential because the health of the Basin's
ecosystem is critical to the approximately 8
million people who reside in the Basin and depend
on its resources for their health and livelihood;
and to the survival of fish and wildlife species that
inhabit the Basin. Many threats exist in the Basin
to overall ecosystem health; and restoration of
the Columbia River Basin will require attention
to a broader range of issues than just toxics.
However, toxics are a critical issue, and in some
instances, may be a limiting factor to salmon
recovery efforts and a key environmental justice
issue for tribal people as high fish consumers.
While there are many other efforts underway, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
key partners recognize there must be increased
attention to Columbia River Basin toxics
reduction.
Columbia River salmon and steelhead runs were
once the largest runs in the world, but are now
threatened and endangered in large part due
to habitat and water quality, including toxics.
The tribal people of the Columbia River have
depended on salmon and lamprey for thousands
of years for human, spiritual, and cultural
sustenance. There is a major salmon recovery
effort underway in the Columbia River Basin.
However, little attention has been given to toxics
reduction or toxics assessment, although many
scientists believe that salmon recovery cannot
be achieved without reducing toxics in water
and sediment. EPA and others feel that toxics
reduction and human health protection is an
important role for EPA leadership and facilitation,
and is consistent with the goals of the Clean
Water Act. In 2005, EPA joined federal, state,
tribal, local, industry and nonprofit partners to
form the collaborative Columbia River Toxics
Reduction Working Group (Working Group) to
focus on toxics, and identified a goal to reduce
toxics in the Columbia River Basin and prevent
further contamination. This group was modeled
on EPA collaborative efforts underway throughout
the U.S. including the Chesapeake Bay and the
National Estuary Program.
The Columbia River Basin State of the River
Report for Toxics http://yosemite.epa.gov/iTO/
ecocomm.nsf/Columbia/SoRR/ was completed
in January 2009 under the leadership of EPA
Region 10 with the support and guidance of
the Working Group. In the State of the River
Report for Toxics, the Working Group described
the risks to the Basin's human and animal
communities from toxics and set forth current
and future efforts needed to reduce toxics. The
report focused primarily on four contaminants:
mercury, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
(DDT) and breakdown products, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl
ether (PBDE) flame retardants. These four
contaminants were chosen as focal points because
they are found throughout the Basin at levels
that could adversely impact people, fish, and
wildlife. However, many other contaminants are
found in the Basin, including arsenic, dioxins,
radionuclides, lead, pesticides, industrial
chemicals, and "emerging contaminants" such
as pharmaceuticals found in wastewater. The
prevalence of these contaminants in the Columbia
River Basin is also of great concern since they can
have moderate to severe impacts on human and
ecosystem health.
In 2006, EPA designated the Columbia River
Basin as a priority Large Aquatic Ecosystem
in the same class as Chesapeake Bay, the Great
Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, and Puget Sound. These
partner ecosystems each have designated funding
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EPA Region 10

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sources to protect and restore the water quality
within their defined ecosystems. Columbia River
Basin toxics reduction work is currently being
done through coordination and partnerships
without any designated funding sources, with the
exception of work done in the estuaiy through
the Lower Columbia River National Estuaiy
Program, funded through Clean Water Act Section
320. The Working Group recommends that toxics
reduction for the Columbia River Basin will best
be accomplished through work efforts achieved
through sustainable resources, which requires
designated funding.
The work in the Columbia River Basin can
provide leadership and support national chemical
policy reform. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson
has identified a priority focus on assuring the
safety of chemical in the U.S. and leading efforts
to work with Congress, members of the public,
the environmental community, and the chemical
industiy to reauthorize the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA). The Administration believes
it is important to work together to quickly
modernize and strengthen the tools available in
TSCA to increase confidence that chemicals used
in commerce, which are vital to our Nation's
economy, are safe and do not endanger the public
health and welfare of consumers, workers, and
especially sensitive sub-populations such as
children, or the environment. More information
on the EPA Initiative can be found at: http://www.
epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/principles.
html
6
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2.0
Action Plan Background and Goals & Objectives
To ensure a more coordinated effort for toxics
reduction in the Columbia River Basin, EPA and the
Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working Group
partners met in Toppenish, Washington, on the
Yakama Indian Nation Reservation, in September
2008, to develop a set of broad initiatives needed to
reduce toxics in the Basin. The discussions led to six
initiatives that were presented in the Columbia River
Basin: State of the River Report for Toxics http://
yosemite.epa.gov/rlO/ecocomm.nsf/Columbia/SoRR/
(see Section 8.0 of the Report - Toxics Reduction
Initiatives). Since that time, the Working Group has
worked together to scope out a more detailed action
plan focusing on five initiatives detailed below, and
the actions that can be accomplished in the next five
years by citizens and government, through 2015, to
better understand and reduce toxic contamination in
the Columbia River Basin. EPA plans to work with
the Working Group and others to update this Action
Plan in 2015 to address emerging issues and changing
resources. The next Action Plan should provide
increased detail on prioritization of actions, integration
of actions and initiatives, and methods for evaluating
effectiveness of efforts.
This action plan identifies two tiers of actions for
each initiative: first, coordination efforts and other
efforts that are already underway; and second, new
efforts needed to reduce toxics in the Basin, based
on additional resources. Any partner in the Basin,
whether a federal or state agency, tribal government,
municipality, regional government, nonprofit
organization, industry group, or citizen, should be able
to look at this Action Plan and identify one or more
recommendations that they could implement given
existing resources. With additional resources, partners
should be able to engage in an increased level of toxic
reduction activities across the Columbia River Basin.
The scope of this Action Plan is on the entire U.S.
portion of the Columbia River Basin including most of
Oregon (OR), Washington (WA) and Idaho (ID), and
parts of Montana, Nevada, and Utah, with a priority
focus on the EPA Region 10 portion of the Basin
(ID, OR, WA). In 1996, EPA convened the National
Estuary Program (NEP) in the Lower Columbia River
estuary with the states of Oregon and Washington,
through Clean Water Act Section 320. The Lower
Columbia River National Estuary Program issued a
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
for the estuary portion of the Basin (approximately
5% of the Basin) in 1999 which serves as the action
plan for implementation and monitoring activities in
the estuary and identifies toxics reduction as a high
priority. EPA, the Columbia River Toxics Reduction
Working Group, and the Lower Columbia River NEP,
working through the Lower Columbia River Estuary
Partnership, will continue to work closely together on
toxics monitoring and toxics reduction throughout the
Basin.
Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction
Action Plan Goal and Initiatives:
The Working Group identified the goal to: Reduce
human and ecosystem exposure to toxics in the
Columbia River Basin
Exposure to toxics will be reduced through the
following initiatives:
•	Increase public understanding and political
commitment to toxics reduction in the Basin
•	Increase toxic reduction actions
•	Conduct monitoring to identify sources and then
work to reduce toxic contamination
•	Develop a regional, multi-agency research
program
•	Develop a data management system that will allow
us to share information on toxics in the Basin
The Columbia River Basin State of the River
Report for Toxics and this Columbia River Toxics
Reduction Action Plan both represent great strides
in collaboration and coordination of toxics reduction
in the Columbia River Basin. The Working Group
believes that the recommendations identified for
each initiative, when implemented, will create a
common framework for toxics reduction and make the
Columbia River Basin ecosystem healthier for all who
live, work, and play in the Basin.
To a great extent, success in reducing toxics in the
Basin will depend on a commitment by all levels of
government, in both the United States and Canada,
tribal governments, nongovernmental organizations,
industry groups and the public to work together. The
problems are too large, widespread, and complex to be
solved by only one organization or country.
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3.0
Initiatives
Initiative #1:
Increase understanding and political
commitment to toxics reduction in the
Columbia River Basin
Political support and public awareness and engagement
are critical to toxics reduction success in the Columbia
River Basin. Additional resources for toxics reduction
and assessment will only be accomplished through
high level political support and an engaged and
informed public.
The Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working
Group intends to partner with Basin stakeholders to
coordinate outreach to the public (municipalities,
schools, business/industry groups, nonprofit
organizations, farm groups, and watershed councils).
This initiative is centered on four objectives to: (1)
formalize the Working Group and expand Federal,
State, Tribal and Regional Executive Collaboration,
(2) improve communication with Basin residents; (3)
raise awareness of toxics issues and reduction efforts/
opportunities; and (4) provide recognition for toxics
reduction work.
Formalize Working Group and Expand
Federal, State and Tribal Executive
Collaboration
The Columbia River Basin is one of EPA's Large
Aquatic Ecosystems (LAE) http://www.epa.gov/owow/
oceans/partnerships/large aquatic.html.
Many LAEs were authorized and endorsed through
Congressional action, leading to formal governance
structures. An executive body comprised of
Federal, State, and Tribal executives to guide toxics
reduction work in the Columbia River Basin through
collaborative decision-making will provide needed
political support and leadership. The Working
Group will also need to maintain and increase its
partnership with key regional partners including the
Lower Columbia River National Estuary Program, the
Northwest Power and Conservation Council and the
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
Improve communication with Basin residents
The Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working
Group has increased the interest and knowledge of
Federal agencies, States, Tribes, local government,
nonprofit organizations, and citizens concerning
toxics in the environment and reduction strategies.
The Working Group plans to actively engage Canada
as our international partner. The Working Group
has put a high priority on information sharing; EPA
has made efforts to improve basic email and Web
communication including a Columbia River Basin
website: www.epa.gov/regionlO/columbia. EPA's
Columbia River program is using Twitter and Web
2.0 technology to reach out to new and existing
audiences: https://twitter.com/EPAcolumbia. With
regular "tweets" and group email blasts, real-time
news and information can be shared with stakeholders,
Recommendations (current resources)
•	Continue the Columbia River Toxics
Reduction Working Group to coordinate work
and collaborate on toxics monitoring and
reduction actions
•	Publish quarterly Columbia River Toxics
Reduction Newsletter
•	Work closer with Canada
•	Continue two watershed workshops a year
•	Provide recognition for toxics reduction
activities (River Hero Award) and increase
events to honor the River
•	Connect and communicate with public through
EPA's Columbia River website and Twitter
feed
Recommendations (with additional resources)
•	Increase toxic reduction information to Basin
•	Engage and educate government and public
on connection between toxics reduction and
salmon recovery
•	Establish executive collaboration and decision
making group and formalize working group
•	Increase Basin-wide watershed toxic reduction
workshops
•	Share information on toxics and green
chemistry curriculum to schools
•	Share success stories
•	Provide increased recognition for toxics
reduction work - industries, municipalities,
schools, etc.
•	Expand Columbia River Basin influence to
affect national decision makers
•	Establish international liaison with Canada
•	Develop targeted outreach campaigns to
special river users such as fishers, boaters, and
surfers
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creating and sustaining a community of toxics
reduction partners. And tools, such as fact sheets,
web pages, brochures, annual events, and recognition
opportunities, and public service announcements can
be used to educate the public and allow citizens to tell
their story about the impact toxics have had on their
lives.
In addition to Working Group meetings, EPA and
partners worked together in 2009 and 2010 to host
a series of watershed workshops on toxics reduction
efforts in different parts of the Basin. Two workshops
focused on agriculture were held in 2009 in Pendleton,
OR, and in Wenatchee, WA. Two workshops in
Portland, OR, focused on specific pollutants, a
PCB workshop in July 2009, and a PBDE/Flame
Retardant workshop held in 2010. Workshops should
be continued and increased as a tool to facilitate
community based dialogue, educate the public on
toxics issues, provide information on toxic reduction
actions, and engage additional partners in reduction
efforts. In addition, the Working Group is meeting
throughout the Basin to provide greater opportunities
to participate; and local groups are key partners.
Working group meetings were held in 2009 and 2010
in Portland, OR; White Salmon, WA; Longview, WA;
The Dalles, OR; Astoria, OR; and Goldendale, WA.
The Columbia River continues to receive media
attention for water quality issues. A coordinated media
approach is needed to share information on successes
and increase the public's understanding of toxics.
Congressional interest increased in 2010 with the
introduction of the Columbia River Restoration Act of
2010.
• Municipal governments: Municipal toxic reduction
success stories.
Provide recognition for toxics reduction work
Awards and recognition should be increased, building
on the annual Columbia River Hero Award, presented
in September 2009 and 2010. Long-term, the Working
Group would like to be involved in the establishment
of recognition and partnership programs with industry
and agriculture to encourage leadership and innovation
in toxic reduction. We should all look for opportunities
to have events to honor the Columbia River and the
people who work hard to protect and restore the River.
Raise awareness of toxics issues and
reduction efforts/opportunities
The working group intends to increase outreach to the
public including schools, business/industry groups,
nonprofit organizations, and watershed councils.
Examples include:
•	Schools: Curriculum on toxics and green
chemistry, including safer alternative products that
do not require the use of toxic chemicals;
•	Business/industry: Information and funding
opportunities for stormwater management, green
chemistry, toxics use reduction and pollution
prevention actions;
•	Nonprofits and watershed councils: Educational
information and fact sheets on toxics, to encourage
volunteer involvement and to increase collection
programs;
•	Agricultural community: Technical information on
best management practices; and
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Initiative #2:
Increase toxic reduction actions
The Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working Group
is committed to provide leadership to federal, state,
tribal, local and other partners to coordinate, leverage
and increase toxic reduction actions.
Expand Toxics Reduction Efforts
Federal, state, tribal and local agencies have multiple
regulatory mechanisms available to reduce toxics.
Such mechanisms include watershed plans known
as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), National
Permit Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permits, storm water controls, water quality standards,
contaminated site cleanup, wetland restoration,
Clean Air Act regulation and programs to control
pesticide usage. These programs need to be expanded.
For example, additional TMDLs for toxics and
implementation plans are needed, and additional
work is needed to identify contaminated sites so
cleanup actions can proceed. Partnerships with Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Extension Service
and others can provide technical assistance to increase
erosion prevention and sediment control on urban,
agricultural and forest lands to limit toxic runoff of
toxic chemicals and erosion of naturally occurring
soils that may contain toxics, such as mercury in
volcanic soil types. However, the most effective
way to reduce toxics in the Columbia River Basin is
through pollution prevention that targets chemical
pollution at the source.
Pollution Prevention
In general, pollution prevention measures are less
expensive and more effective, efficient and reliable
than treating, recycling, or cleaning up pollutants
after use. The Working Group advocates increased
Recommendations (current resources)
•	Better use existing funding to increase toxic
reduction actions.
•	EPA, local governments, state and tribes,
should reduce discharge of toxics through more
protective water quality standards, approval
and implementation of TMDLs, increased
stormwater controls, and increased inspections
and enforcement
•	Continue Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships in
OR, WA and ID
•	Coordinate with existing state and local
programs to implement Integrated Pest
Management on private and public lands
throughout the Columbia River Basin.
•	Coordinate with Oregon Toxic Reduction
Strategy http://www.deq.state.or.us/toxics/
•	Coordinate with Washington Ecology's Toxics
Threat Initiative: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/toxics/
index.htm
•	Continue to work to identify new contaminated
sites
•	Continue ongoing and future federal, state, and
local activities to clean up contaminated sites
•	Reduce mercury through EPA Mercury Strategy
Framework
Recommendations (with additional resources)
•	Expand collaborative, watershed-based toxics
reduction activities throughout the Basin linked
directly to monitoring data, such as Pesticide
Stewardship Partnerships to reduce pesticide
loadings to streams
•	Expand collection and take back programs
including mercury, pesticides, household
hazardous waste, pharmaceuticals and
electronics in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and
on tribal lands
•	Promote salmon and lamprey recovery efforts
that reduce toxics
•	Promote industry leadership on green chemistry,
transition to safer alternative products, and
pollution prevention
•	Expand erosion prevention and sediment,
stormwater and runoff controls, and clean-up
programs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and on
tribal lands
•	Increase enforcement to reduce toxics
•	Promote chemical safety reform
•	Increase education and technical assistance to
the public on toxics reduction opportunities
•	Promote eco-certification programs for
consumer products that do not contain priority
toxics
•	Increase cross-media and cross-program
coordination to develop and implement TMDLs
that address and reduce discharges from air, land
and water sources
•	Increase technical assistance to farmers and
ranchers to increase best management practices,
provide eco-certification, application technology
training, drift reduction training and Spanish
language training to decrease pesticide use
•	Increase opportunities throughout the Basin
to exchange information on successful toxics
reduction efforts
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pollution prevention throughout the Basin, including
the advancement of green chemistry. Washington
Ecology is focusing on pollution prevention in urban
waters through the Urban Waters Initiative: (http: www.
ecy.wa.gov/urbanwaters/index.html). Washington
Ecology's Local Source Control Partnerships focuses
directly on assisting small businesses to prevent
polluted runoff in the Spokane River Basin (http://
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/lsp/index.html).
Other specific actions that can be taken include:
•	Partnerships with industry to promote research,
development, and implementation of innovative
chemical technologies as promoted by EPA's
Green Chemistry Program http://www.epa.gov/
greenchemistry/pubs/epa gc.html#goals
•	Increased use of chemical technologies that reduce
or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous
substances during the design, manufacture, and
use of chemical products and processes.
•	Chemical replacement and phase outs of certain
pollutants when viable, safer alternatives are
available.
•	Public education about the risks of exposure to
certain pollutants
•	Product labeling and environmental certification
programs
Promote Green Chemistry
Green Chemistry is the practice of using chemicals and
chemical processes that reduce impact to health and
the environment. In 2009, the EPA listed promoting
green chemistry as one of its priorities in dealing
with chemical safety (http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/
existingchemicals/pubs/principles.html). The use and
production of "green" chemicals has a number of
benefits for both the public and industry by reducing
waste - and reducing the toxicity of the waste, making
safer products available to consumers, and reducing
the use of energy and resources.
EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) puts
green chemistry into action by helping industry
and consumers make safer chemical choices. As
consumers, we are surrounded by chemicals - in
shampoo, soaps, cleaners, which can wind up in
our streams and rivers. For consumers, DfE allows
products that incorporate the principles of green
chemistry and meet the stringent criteria for human
and environmental health to use the DfE logo.
Products that earn the DfE logo are less toxic to
organisms and ecosystems, are not persistent or
bioaccumulative in organisms or the environment, and
are inherently safer with respect to handling and use.
Chemicals have a range of uses in products; chemicals
such us flame retardants used for fire safety in
furniture can find their way into river sediment,
animals, and people. Receipts made from thermal
paper often contain bisphenyl A, a reproductive
toxicant for humans and aquatic life. DfE works
with industry to identify inherently safer chemicals
for uses as divergent as flame retardants in furniture
foam and circuit boards to components in receipt
paper. Other groups and activities at the EPA, such as
the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program
and Green Chemistry Presidential Awards also help
to promote the broader adoption of the principles of
green chemistry into the economy.
Assist in Revising Clean Water Act Criteria
EPA will continue to provide leadership for regulatory
programs to reduce toxics. Currently EPA is working
with the State of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes
of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to develop Clean
Water Act human health criteria that should increase
protection for Oregon populations, especially tribal
members, who consume high amounts of fish. The new
human health criteria are expected to be final in 2011.
The current Oregon human health criteria are based
on 6.5 grams per day fish consumption rate, which
represents one 7-ounce serving a month. (Currently
Idaho and Washington also have rates of 6.5 grams/
day.) The new Oregon criteria will be based on 175
grams per day, about 23 fish meals a month. These
criteria should result in reduced toxics in point sources,
nonpoint sources, hazardous waste clean ups, water
quality improvement plan (TMDL) implementation
and other tools. The toxics reduction tools developed
from this water quality standards work will serve as
a national and regional model for increased toxics
reduction actions and human health protection,
especially for high fish consumers, http://www.deq.
state.or.us/wq/standards/toxics.htm
In addition to affecting the numerical limits in
discharge permits, revised water quality standards will
also set goals for cleanup projects for contaminated
areas, form the foundation for TMDLs, and while
the regulatory mechanisms are not as firm, they can
establish goals for non-point source control efforts, as
well. Standards themselves will not solve the problem
of toxic chemical contamination in the environment.
A broad-based effort will be needed to deal with the
spectrum of toxic chemical concerns, from legacy
pollutants in river sediments to emerging contaminants
such as flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, and
personal care products.
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Increase Resources and Support to Reduce
Toxics
Some of the greatest successes in reducing toxics
in the Columbia River Basin have been from
improvements in agricultural practices. There have
been tremendous successes in sediment reduction
efforts, Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships and
Pesticide Take Back programs in OR, WA, and ID.
Oregon's Pesticide Stewardship Partnership programs
have demonstrated great success in reducing current
use organophosphate pesticides in fish and water
through the use of basic best management practices
and monitoring analysis. In 1999, Oregon DEQ set
up two Pesticide Stewardship Partnership (http://
www.deq.state.or.us/wq/pubs/factsheets/community/
pesticide.pdf) pilot projects in Oregon's Hood River
and Mill Creek, to work collaboratively with local
stakeholders to reduce organophosphate pesticides.
In the Walla Walla Basin, best management practices
showed a 70% reduction in organophosphate pesticides
from 2006 to 2008.
In May 2009, the Washington Department of Health
lifted the DDT fish advisory for the Yakima River
Basin, (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/fish/
yakimariver2009-fs .pdf) which had been in place
for many years and was the result of decades of
DDT use for agricultural production in the Basin.
DDT, which binds to soil particles, was dramatically
reduced in fish and water through the use of best
management practices put in place by a cooperative
effort of irrigation districts, farmers, the Washington
Department of Ecology and the Yakama Nation.
Increased support to local soil and water conservation
districts and watershed groups is needed to support
the continued collection of legacy pesticides from
businesses and private citizens, and to ensure proper
disposal of pesticides and other hazardous wastes
such as solvents, batteries, electronics, and materials
containing PBDEs, to licensed hazardous waste
facilities. Previous programs in OR, WA and ID have
recovered toxic chemicals, including thousands of
pounds of DDT, banned in the 1970's. By 2010, the
Idaho State Department of Agriculture has collected
over one million pounds of pesticides through
collection programs. Growers, homeowners, and
applicators often have pesticides that are unusable
because of expiration, cancellation, deterioration,
or crop changes. Permanent collection points are
established throughout Idaho and materials are taken to
licensed facility for incineration or disposal. Increased
funding and technical assistance is needed to support
and expand these successful collaborative agricultural
toxic reduction work efforts throughout the Columbia
River Basin. Pharmaceutical take back programs
should also be expanded to provide safe disposal and
reduce the input of drugs into rivers and streams.
Efforts to integrate toxics reduction with salmon
recovery efforts should be increased. Recovery efforts
need to acknowledge that Columbia River Basin
salmon and lamprey habitat restoration and population
increases are dependent on water quality and toxic
reduction. More partnerships should be developed with
nongovernmental partners who carry out volunteer
monitoring efforts, such as Columbia Riverkeeper,
and those who work with industry and agriculture
to reduce the impacts of toxics on the environment
through training and eco-certification programs, such
as Salmon Safe.
Ongoing work efforts that should continue are
Oregon's Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction
Program: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/hw/tuhwr.htm.
This program mandates certain businesses to develop
a toxics reduction plan or use an environmental
management system (EMS) to reduce toxic chemicals
and hazardous wastes. Washington Ecology has a
toxic threat Initiative focused on prevention to control
toxics: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/toxics/index.htm.
Implement Previously Identified Priority
Actions for Mercury Reduction
In 2008, EPA Region 10 developed a Mercury Strategy
Framework which identified priority actions for
reducing mercury in the Northwest: http://yoSemite,
epa.gov/r 10/homepage.nsf/webpage/mercury. Many
of those actions are critical for reducing mercury in
the Columbia River Basin and the Working Group
endorses implementation of these priority actions.
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Initiative #3:
Conduct monitoring to identify sources
and then reduce toxics
The Columbia River Basin State of the River Report
for Toxics identified two initiatives critical to further
success in reducing toxics in the Basin. The first was
to identify, inventory, and characterize the sources
of toxics in the Basin. The second was to develop
a regional, multi-agency long-term monitoring
plan for the Columbia River and its tributaries. The
Working Group decided that these two initiatives
should be combined. It was also decided that due to
the size, complexity, and jurisdictional interests of
the Columbia River Basin and because of the lack of
funding, it was unrealistic to develop and implement
a monitoring plan at the scale of the entire Basin.
Recommendations (current resources)
•	Identify the contaminants of concern to focus
on in the Basin
•	Use the prioritization tool in one area of the
River to assist in developing a monitoring plan
and modify the tool based on the results of the
pilot project
•	Assist other partners throughout Basin
on using the prioritization tool to develop
monitoring plans
•	Continue to seek and leverage resources to
supplement existing monitoring by agencies,
organizations, and Tribes in the Basin
Recommendations (with additional resources)
•	Expand monitoring to the highest priority
areas in the Basin as identified by the
prioritization tool
•	Support watershed-based targeted monitoring
efforts that link directly to reduction efforts,
such as TMDLs, source assessments and
Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships
•	Support localized monitoring efforts that will
provide baseline data where habitat restoration
is planned and/or ongoing; and targeted
monitoring on species of concern, either ESA
listed or for commercial or subsistence use
•	Assess sources of contamination and loadings
for priority tracking and control
•	Establish toxic reduction efforts which include
status and trends effectiveness monitoring
•	Identify opportunities to integrate water, land,
air, sediment and biota monitoring
•	Develop public friendly reports to share
monitoring information with the public
Finally, it was recognized that governmental (Federal,
State, and Tribal) agencies and non-governmental
organizations are already conducting monitoring
at some locations in the Basin and any additional
resources should be targeted to supplement these
organizations' resources and to work towards a
common monitoring framework.
Develop Tool to Prioritize Work Efforts
To assist these governmental and non-governmental
organizations, the Working Group is working on a tool
that would aid in prioritizing the location of future
monitoring. The purpose of the tool is to develop
an objective process for identifying and prioritizing
additional or supplementary monitoring needed
to locate sources of toxics and to target reduction
actions. In addition, the prioritization tool will provide
consistency in monitoring methods, detection limits
and media selection, and allow for networking among
agencies conducting monitoring or formulating plans
for monitoring in the Basin. The monitoring will be
both short and long-term depending on the need for
each specific area of the Basin and is envisioned for
water, sediment and biota.
The Working Group has compiled data for each
tributary and the Columbia and Snake Rivers on
factors that may contribute to contamination (e.g.,
number of wastewater treatment plants on a tributary;
flow of tributary; number of mining sites in area;
quantity of pesticides used in area; and number of
people in area). This information will be used with
data already collected on contaminant levels to assist
in identifying areas where additional monitoring is
needed.
A Six Step Process to Conduct Monitoring in
the Columbia River Basin
There are several next steps. First, the Working Group
will identify the contaminants likely to present the
greatest ecological and human health concern for the
Columbia Basin ecosystem. The Working Group will
start with the four contaminants identified in the State
of the River Report (i.e., mercury, PCBs, PBDEs, and
DDTs) and identify other contaminants of concern.
The Working Group will convene a group of experts to
assist in this process and this workshop is expected to
occur in early 2011.
Second, the Working Group will develop a pilot
project in one geographic area of the Basin to test
the utility of the prioritization tool and modify the
tool if necessary. As a part of this pilot project, the
Working Group will compile the existing contaminant
information for that area and identify any data
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gaps. The purpose of the pilot project is to assist in
developing a monitoring plan for that specific area of
the Basin.
Third, the Working Group will work with other
governmental and non-governmental groups to use
the prioritization tool in other areas. The purpose
is to assist these groups to identify the areas where
additional or supplemental monitoring is needed.
Fourth, the results from the refined monitoring will be
analyzed to identify specific contaminants of concern
by catchment. Once the toxics are spatially identified
by catchment, the Working Group would identify
specific target geographic areas and source types for
needed reduction strategies.
Fifth, the Working Group will work to leverage
resources for additional monitoring in these data gap
areas, including the Snake River. The Snake River, as
the largest tributary to the Columbia River, is integral
in the overall reduction of Columbia River Basin
Toxics. The prioritization tool will assist in designing
any additional monitoring.
Finally, the Working Group will assist its partners in
the analysis of this new monitoring data. The goal will
be to link certain toxics or classes of toxics to specific
catchments or to common land uses. This will assist to
identify sources of contamination and further inform
the toxics reduction strategy.
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Initiative #4:
Develop a regional, multi-agency research
and monitoring program
While limited research on the effects of toxics in
the Basin ecosystem is being conducted by different
agencies, there is no coordinated effort to identify
the highest research and monitoring priorities or
gaps in our knowledge in the Basin. The Working
Group believes a collaborative effort to develop a
research plan is necessary to effectively leverage
limited resources among agencies and to further our
understanding of the Basin's contaminant problems
and their relation to the food web. A collaborative
effort will enable the development of an integrated
approach that focuses on issues specific to the
Columbia River Basin.
Unanswered Questions
Some of the questions that need to be addressed in a
research strategy include, but are not limited to:
•	What are appropriate indicators/measures of
success that could be used in evaluating the health
of the ecosystem?
•	What data must be collected to evaluate the
indicators/measures of success?
•	Why are mercury and PBDEs increasing in
osprey?
•	What are the main factors that are controlling
Recommendations (current resources)
•	Identify and inventory in a database existing
toxics research being conducted in the Basin
•	Using this research, convene scientists to
assist in developing a Regional research plan
for the Basin
•	Establish connections with researchers from
other large aquatic ecosystems to better
understand their research and its application to
the Basin
Recommendations (with additional resources)
•	Conduct research based on priorities identified
in research plan
•	Develop indicators of ecosystem health
•	Develop new standards and criteria to protect
fish, wildlife, and humans from toxics
•	Visit other regional centers to learn more about
research programs
•	Conduct "Control Studies" to evaluate
effectiveness of Best Management Practices,
toxics reduction efforts, and emerging
reduction strategies.
mercury methylation in the Region?
•	What are the trends in mink and otter populations
in the Basin and what factors are contributing to
their increase or decrease?
•	What are the health effects to fish and wildlife
including listed species from toxics, especially
from emerging contaminants?
•	What are appropriate biological markers to
measure the health impacts to fish and shellfish?
•	What are the appropriate standards and criteria for
fish, wildlife, and humans from toxics, especially
from emerging contaminants?
A specific outcome from convening scientists from
throughout the Region would be to further refine and
add to the questions above and develop research plans
on how to address these questions. The hope is that
many of these questions can be addressed by scientists
within the region (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, EPACorvallis
Laboratory, U.S. Geological Services (USGS) Science
Centers, and others). This will likely require additional
resources.
Build on Previous Work
The initiative will also take advantage of the large
body of existing research on the impacts of toxics and
the best methods for conducting research based on
monitoring work already done by the Lower Columbia
River National Estuary Program and similar activities
in other large aquatic ecosystems in the United States,
such as the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay. This
information may inform research efforts in the Basin.
Control studies to evaluate effectiveness of emerging
toxics reduction strategies and existing toxics
reduction efforts will also be helpful. An example
study could include controlling general water quality
parameters such as sulfate and total organic carbon to
reduce mercury exposure of Columbia River Basin
fish.
EPA and USGS plan to convene a group of scientists
in 2010 to begin discussion on developing a research/
monitoring program relevant to the Columbia River
Basin, performed by regional scientists and supports
toxics reduction in the Basin. The goal of the meeting
will be to develop a list of recommendations for
high priority research based on current resources
and also recommendations for other research should
further resources become available. We anticipate
participation from a wide range of Federal and
State agencies along with Tribes, non-profits, and
universities.
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EPA Region 10

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Initiative #5:
Develop a data management system that
will allow us to share information on toxics
in the Basin
The ability to access information is critical to
effectively and efficiently identifying sources of
toxics and then designing and implementing reduction
actions. Currently, no single database contains all
of the data from Columbia River Basin monitoring
efforts. Many agencies and organizations are involved
in monitoring and reporting environmental conditions
in the Basin and have developed data bases unique to
their specific needs. Some of the data are not publicly-
accessible or are often available only in hard copy
records, with the records are of unknown quality, and
most in differing formats. While a single database
would be useful, its development would be very
expensive and require dedicated resources to operate
and maintain.
Develop an Inventory of Existing Data
The Working Group believes it is important to build on
work that has already begun or completed to develop
and inventory of existing data. A first step will be to
identify all the potential data sources and data bases
for toxics information in the Columbia Basin. This was
started as part of the Columbia River Basin State of the
River Report for Toxics where data on PCBs, mercury,
DDTs, and PBDEs was compiled. The data came from
various sources including USGS, EPA, Northwest
States, Tribes, NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Columbia Riverkeeper, and numerous other
sources generated over the last 20 years. In 2006,
the Northwest Environmental Data Network (NED)
(http://www.nwcouncil.org/ned/Default.asp) developed
an inventory of publicly available environmental data
sources in the Northwest. The inventory lists about 80
web sites with Northwest data and other information
related to environmental information. Large amounts
of data will also be available from the EPA clean ups
in Portland Harbor and the Upper Columbia River.
Also, toxics data was compiled from Grand Coulee
Dam downstream to the Pacific Ocean as a part of the
Hanford cleanup. This data will be entered into EPA's
Water Quality Exchange in 2010.
Build on Success
A second step will be to evaluate how other multi-
State large aquatic ecosystems, like the Chesapeake
Bay and Great Lakes, manage data, which could
provide direction to our effort. And finally, a third step
will be to discuss how to work with existing efforts
such as the Pacific Northwest Data Exchange (http://
www.nwcouncil.org/ned/Default.asp) and the Pacific
Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership. In order
to do this, EPA plans to convene a group in 2010 to
discuss the different options for managing toxics data
in the Region. At this meeting we will develop a list of
recommendations on how best to move forward with
developing a process for sharing toxics information
and what resources are needed in order to accomplish
these recommendations.
Recommendations (current resources)
•	Convene a group to discuss different options
for managing toxics data in the Region
•	Evaluate how other large aquatic ecosystems
manage data
Recommendations (with additional resources)
•	Create a data stewardship program, hosted and
managed by a single entity
•	Survey all relevant existing data management
systems in the Region
•	Verify that all data has a spatial component
(latitude, longitude). Include a spatial
component to the data available in order to
view and create maps, and conduct spatial
analysis
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4.0
Summary
There is increasing societal awareness and concern
about toxics in our environment. EPA estimates that
there are between 80,000 and 100,000 chemicals in
use in commerce. Many of these chemicals are making
their way into the magnificent Columbia River Basin
and affecting the ecosystem and the fish that tribal
people have consumed for 10,000 years or more. If we
want to preserve the Columbia River Basin ecosystem
for future generations, we must make important
changes and take actions to reduce toxic contamination
throughout the Basin.
This action plan represents a five year blueprint with
over 60 actions (a complete list is found in Table
1) to reduce toxic contamination and restore the
Columbia River Basin. As more information becomes
available and partnerships develop, additional actions
will likely be identified, especially if increased and
sustained resources become available. The Columbia
River Toxics Reduction Working Group, under EPA
leadership, presents this action plan to the region,
from decision makers to citizens, to serve as a catalyst
for collaborative action and to recognize that the
time is now to step forward and reduce toxics in the
Columbia River Basin. As described in the action
plan, coordination and leveraging existing resources
can help accomplish some toxic reductions, however,
accountable and measurable success will only happen
with increased resources, political commitment
and an engaged and informed public. We must all
work together to increase toxic reduction actions,
foster a better understanding of toxic contamination
and increase public and political engagement and
leadership in decisions that can affect the future human
and ecosystem health of the Columbia River Basin.
We look forward to working together in the years
ahead to aggressively restore this ecosystem and
preserve its importance and culture for many
generations to come.
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EPA Region 10

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Table 1
List of Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Actions
Initiative #1:
Increase understanding and political
commitment to toxics reduction in the
Columbia River Basin
Current Resources
1.	Continue the Columbia River Toxics Reduction
Working Group to coordinate work and collaborate on
toxics monitoring and reduction actions
2.	Publish quarterly Columbia River Toxics Reduction
Newsletter
3.	Work closer with Canada
4.	Continue two watershed workshops a year
5.	Provide recognition for toxics reduction activities
(River Hero Award) and increase events to honor the
River
6.	Connect and communicate with public through EPA's
Columbia River website and Twitter feed
Additional Resources Needed
7.	Increase toxic reduction information to Basin
8.	Engage and educate government and public on
connection between toxics reduction and salmon
recovery
9.	Establish executive collaboration and decision making
group and formalize working group
10.	Increase Basin-wide watershed toxic reduction
workshops
11.	Share information on toxics and green chemistry
curriculum to schools
12.	Share success stories
13.	Provide increased recognition for toxics reduction work
- industries, municipalities, schools, etc.
14.	Expand Columbia River Basin influence to affect
national decision makers
15.	Establish international liaison with Canada
16.	Develop targeted outreach campaigns to special river
users such as fishers, boaters, and surfers
Initiative #2:
Increase toxic reduction actions
Current Resources
17.	Better use existing funding to increase toxic reduction
actions.
18.	EPA, local governments, state and tribes, should reduce
discharge of toxics through more protective water
quality standards, approval and implementation of
TMDLs, increased stormwater controls, and increased
inspections and enforcement
19.	Continue Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships in OR,
WA and ID
20.	Coordinate with existing state and local programs to
implement Integrated Pest Management on private and
public lands throughout the Columbia River Basin.
21.	Coordinate with Oregon Toxic Reduction Strategy:
http ://w ww. deq. state, or. us/toxic s/
22.	Coordinate with Washington Ecology's Toxics Threat
Initiative: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/toxics/index.htm
23.	Continue to work to identify new contaminated sites
24.	Continue ongoing and future federal, state, and local
activities to clean up contaminated sites
25.	Reduce mercury through EPA Mercury Strategy
Framework
Additional Resources Needed
26.	Expand collaborative, watershed-based toxics reduction
activities throughout the Basin linked directly to
monitoring data, such as Pesticide Stewardship
Partnerships to reduce pesticide loadings to streams
27.	Expand collection and take back programs including
mercury, pesticides, household hazardous waste,
pharmaceuticals and electronics in Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, and on tribal lands
28.	Promote salmon and lamprey recovery efforts that
reduce toxics
29.	Promote industry leadership on green chemistry,
transition to safer alternative products, and pollution
prevention
30.	Expand erosion prevention and sediment, stormwater
and runoff controls, and clean-up programs in Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, and on tribal lands
31.	Increase enforcement to reduce toxics
32.	Promote chemical safety reform
33.	Increase education and technical assistance to the public
on toxics reduction opportunities
34.	Promote eco-certification programs for consumer
products that do not contain priority toxics
35.	Increase cross-media and cross-program coordination to
develop and implement TMDLs that address and reduce
discharges from air, land and water sources
36.	Increase technical assistance to fanners and ranchers
to increase best management practices, provide eco-
certification, application technology training, drift
reduction training and Spanish language training to
decrease pesticide use
37.	Increase opportunities throughout the Basin to exchange
information on successful toxics reduction efforts
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EPA Region 10

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Initiative #3:
Conduct monitoring to identify sources
and then reduce toxics
Current Resources
38.	Identify the contaminants of concern to focus on in the
Basin
39.	Use the prioritization tool in one area of the River to
assist in developing a monitoring plan and modify the
tool based on the results of the pilot project
40.	Assist other partners throughout Basin on using the
prioritization tool to develop monitoring plans
41.	Continue to seek and leverage resources to supplement
existing monitoring by agencies, organizations, and
Tribes in the Basin
Additional Resources Needed
42.	Expand monitoring to the highest priority areas in the
Basin as identified by the prioritization tool
43.	Support watershed-based targeted monitoring efforts
that link directly to reduction efforts, such as TMDLs,
source assessments and Pesticide Stewardship
Partnerships
44.	Support localized monitoring efforts that will provide
baseline data where habitat restoration is planned and/or
ongoing; and targeted monitoring on species of concern,
either ESA listed or for commercial or subsistence use
45.	Assess sources of contamination and loadings for
priority tracking and control
46.	Establish toxic reduction efforts which include status
and trends effectiveness monitoring
47.	Identify opportunities to integrate water, land, air,
sediment and biota monitoring
48.	Develop public friendly reports to share monitoring
information with the public
Initiative #4:
Develop a regional, multi-agency research
and monitoring program
Current Resources
49.	Identify and inventory in a database existing toxics
research being conducted in the Basin
50.	Using this research, convene scientists to assist in
developing a Regional research plan for the Basin
51.	Establish connections with researchers from other large
aquatic ecosystems to better understand their research
and its application to the Basin
Additional Resources Needed
52.	Conduct research based on priorities identified in
research plan
53.	Develop indicators of ecosystem health
54.	Develop new standards and criteria to protect fish,
wildlife, and humans from toxics
55.	Visit other regional centers to learn more about research
programs
56.	Conduct "Control Studies" to evaluate effectiveness of
Best Management Practices, toxics reduction efforts,
and emerging reduction strategies.
Initiative #5:
Develop a data management system that
will allow us to share information on toxics
in the Basin
Current Resources
57.	Convene a group to discuss different options for
managing toxics data in the Region
58.	Evaluate how other large aquatic ecosystems manage
data
Additional Resources Needed
59.	Create a data stewardship program, hosted and managed
by a single entity
60.	Survey all relevant existing data management systems
in the Region
61.	Verify that all data has a spatial component (latitude,
longitude). Include a spatial component to the data
available in order to view and create maps, and conduct
spatial analysis
Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan
EPA Region 10

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